A tummy tuck procedure, also known as an abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and small fat deposits from the abdomen. The surgery helps tighten the underlying muscle, resulting in a smoother, more contoured silhouette.
After weight loss or pregnancy, a tummy tuck can help you restore a more youthful figure. Sometimes, a traditional or full tummy tuck is not enough to address the remaining excess skin tissue after a significant weight loss. The fleur-de-lis tummy tuck in Walnut Creek, performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Seth Eberlin, offers an effective and safe option with the same complication rate as a traditional abdominoplasty technique.
This approach to abdominoplasty is reserved for people with excess skin in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the abdomen. In most cases, the surgery is reserved for people who have lost a significant amount of weight.
During the procedure, Dr. Eberlin removes skin from the upper and lower abdomen through horizontal and vertical incisions. The horizontal incision goes across the lower abdomen, and the vertical incision runs along the midline, so the final scar looks like an upside-down “T.”
The term fleur-de-lis describes a decorative design or stylized lily or iris. The surgical incision got its name from the appearance of partially closed incisions that look like three-petaled iris flowers. The vertical incision allows the surgeon to remove more skin and tighten the abdominal area. This procedure is unlike the traditional tummy tuck, which uses a horizontal scar in the lower abdomen and cannot accommodate extensive correction.
Although there is a more visible scar most people are highly satisfied with how a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck in Walnut Creek removes excess skin, improves their hygiene, helps their clothes fit better, and reduces pain and discomfort.
The ideal candidate for a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck will have excess skin from significant weight loss. Good candidates have skin laxity that results in skin folds, creating pain, discomfort, and difficulties maintaining hygiene. A tummy tuck procedure is not a weight loss option, so individuals must be committed to maintaining a stable weight after surgery.
Nicotine and tobacco products increase the risk of complications during surgery from anesthesia, impair healing, and increase the risk of infection in the postoperative period. Candidates must be generally healthy and non-smokers or be willing to quit smoking four to six weeks before and after surgery. This includes quitting any tobacco product or nicotine delivery system, such as vaping, nicotine gum, or nicotine patches.
Individuals must have realistic expectations about the outcome of surgery, including remaining scars, and must be committed to a healthy lifestyle that maintains the results.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck in Walnut Creek can improve the shape of the waistline, reposition and tighten abdominal muscles, and create more pronounced muscle contours.
On the day of surgery, you should arrive in loose-fitting clothing that you can easily put on when you are ready to go home. Dr. Eberlin will give you specific postoperative instructions, which you must follow carefully to avoid complications, including infection and poor healing.
Swelling and discomfort are common in the first weeks, making wearing a compression garment, resting, and limited movement necessary parts of recovery. Pain management is customized to meet your needs and alleviate your discomfort.
The support garment reduces swelling and helps the tissue heal in your new contours. Dr. Eberlin may place drains in the incisions during surgery so excess fluid does not build up beneath the sutures. Those will be removed during your first follow-up visit.
Most people can resume normal activity within two to three weeks but must refrain from strenuous exercise until released by Dr. Eberlin. Every surgery has inherent risks, such as adverse reactions to anesthesia or infection along the incision line during healing.
If you have lost a significant amount of weight and would benefit from the removal of excess tissue on your abdomen, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our skilled plastic surgeon and learn more about a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck in Walnut Creek. Our experienced medical staff recognizes that everyone is unique, so your recommendations are customized to address your cosmetic concerns and help you reach your aesthetic goals.